NFL All-Rookie Squad

Filed in archive NFL on December 19, 2007

The AFC and NFC Pro Bowl representatives were chosen, and three rookies made the team - San Francisco LB Patrick Willis, Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson and Dallas K Nick Folk. With that in mind, let's take a look at who could make up the NFL's All-Rookie squad.

OFFENSE

QB - Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills: There really isn't even anyone else to consider. As is usually the case, rookie QB's struggle mightily. However, Edwards has completed nearly 60% of his passes with a respectable 75.6 QB rating while throwing five touchdowns and five interceptions.

RB - Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: This was no contest. Peterson has nearly 1,300 yards rushing and 12 TD's to go along with is ridiculous 5.9 yards per carry average.

WR - Dwayne Bowe, K.C. Chiefs and Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: Bowe has been the best rookie wideout by far, with 61 catches, four for TD's, and nearly 900 yards receiving. It was close between Johnson and Packers rookie James Jones, but Johnson has nearly the same catches and yards, but more TD's and yards per game, and less fumbles.

TE - Greg Olson, Chicago Bears: Another close race. Zach Miller of Oakland has very similar numbers, but comes up just a bit short. Olson has 364 receiving yards and 36 catches, with six of them going for 20 or more yards.

Offensive Line: Offensive lineman are tricky, as they are usually only noticed when they mess up. However, Cleveland's Joe Thomas was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate at tackle, and other rookies have contributed as well: Levi Brown in Arizona, Tony Ugoh in Indianapolis, Joe Staley in San Francisco, Samson Satele in Miami and Ben Grubbs of Auburn among them.

DEFENSE

DE - Gaines Adams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Brian Robison, Minnesota Vikings: The defensive end position has not been terribly productive for this rookie class, as players like Atlanta's Jamaal Anderson has yet to record a sack. Adams started slow but now has 35 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles. Meanwhile, Robison, a fourth round pick, has 4.5 sacks, 21 tackles and a forced fumble.

DT - Amobi Okoye, Houston Texans and Adam Carriker, St. Louis Rams: Okoye has been what he was in college - a pass rusher. He has 5.5 sacks and 30 tackles. Meanwhile, Carriker and fellow rookie Cliff Ryan have both been good selections for the Rams. Carriker was brought in to stop the run, and he has helped, with 27 tackles, two sacks, a safety and a forced fumble.

LB - Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers, Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers and David Harris, N.Y. Jets: Granted, these are all guys who play in the middle, so they have an advantage over their outside counterparts, but they all bring something to the table. Each has over 100 tackles, but Willis leads with over 140. Beason has defended seven passes and picked one off, while Harris has three sacks.

CB - Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets and Leon Hall, Cincinnati Bengals: With apologies to Houston's Fredrick Bennett, who would man the nickel on this team, Revis and Hall have been the best. Revis has 80 tackles to go with his rookie leading 18 passes defended. He also has three interceptions. Meanwhile, Hall leads rookie corners with four picks, and he also has 59 tackles.

S - Tanard Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Gerald Alexander, Detroit Lions: Jackson, a fourth round selection, has done a bit of everything. He has 50 tackles, 15 passes defended, two interceptions, two fumbles recovered and one forced fumble. Alexander, a second round selection, has been equally as busy, with 71 tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

(Photo: Flickr)